SPOON

A complete late medieval - early post medieval lead alloy spoon dating late 15th - 16th century. The spoon has a fig shaped bowl leading to a hexagonal stem. The stem terminates in a bulbous, hexagonal knop (Hornsby, Weinstein and Homer, 1989, pp. 60) with two collars below. The ends of the upper collar do not align and so it appears there are three at one point. Above the knop is an irregularly shaped decorative projection. There is a touch mark "NI" set within a beaded border with a pellet above and below the lettering. The letters "IK" are also stamped above the touch mark, which are the owner's initials. The metal has a golden appearance due to tin sulphides creating "nature's gilding".

Parallels suggest this object dates from the late 15th century to 16th century (Egan, 2005, no. 523; Cotterell, 1929 p. 134 no. 7 ). A similar knop can be found on the PAS database: WILT-996301.

Dimensions: length: 167.76 mm; thickness of the stem: 6.66 mm; diameter of the bowl: 62.80 mm; weight: 63.19g.

Reference: Hornsby, P., Weinstein, R. and Homer, R. 1989. Pewter. A Celebration of the Craft 1200 - 1700. Museum of London, London.

Egan, G. 2005. Material Culture in London in an Age of Transition. MoLAS Monograph 19. English Heritage: London.

Cotterell, H. H. 1929. Old Pewter. Its Makers and Marks. Batsford, Glasgow.